"Áras watch: Michael McDowell forgets his lectures on democracy in refusing to sign Maria Steen's presidential papers"
"The fingers of blame are being pointed at the main political parties for blocking Independent candidates. But less attention has been paid to the role of Independent senators such as the former justice minister and PD leader, who had no loyalties to candidates already in the race, writes Fionnán Sheahan."
Main political parties are being blamed for blocking Independent presidential candidates, but Independent senators also played a decisive role. Michael McDowell, a former justice minister and PD leader, refused to sign Maria Steen's nomination papers despite lacking loyalties to existing candidates. That refusal ran counter to professed democratic principles and contributed to preventing Independent voices from entering the race. The episode highlights how actions by both party-affiliated and nominally Independent political figures can reinforce institutional barriers to non-party candidates and limit competition for the presidency.
#michael-mcdowell #maria-steen #independent-candidates #presidential-nomination #political-obstruction
Read at Irish Independent
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